This work will build on our [[Neighborhood Forums]], [[Rural Voices]] and general [http://e-democracy.org/if Issues Forum] work as well as our exploratory [[Neighborly]] effort to build a tool that helps connect you with your nearest neighbors online via electronic block clubs of sorts (for all kinds of [[block activities]].

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This work will build on our [[Neighborhood Forums]], [[Rural Voices]] and general [http://e-democracy.org/if Issues Forum] work as well as our exploratory [[Neighborly]] effort to build a tool that helps connect you with your nearest neighbors online via electronic block clubs of sorts (for all kinds of [[block activities]]).

== Background ==

== Background ==

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For further background on this evolving work, see the following blog posts on our [http://blog.e-democracy.org project blog]:

For further background on this evolving work, see the following blog posts on our [http://blog.e-democracy.org project blog]:

From gathering lessons on effective community outreach (we do extensive in-person outreach) to building content and forum participant engagement that reflects the diversity of those successfully recruited, this work is being watched. This seems to be a nut that no one has cracked. What good is online engagement if it simply helps those communities that need the least relative help while completely passing over those diverse/lower income areas that could benefit the most?

Our Community Outreach and Information Leaders (up to 7 hours a week) are working to both increase the number of participants but to also lead aggressive information seeking and discussion seeding that brings out the diverse of the community in the dialogue and exchange. We will also seek an academic partner to develop a case study and help evaluate this ongoing work.

We are also seeking to confirm potential funding to include our Native American majority rural Minnesota Cass Lake Leech Lake community Issues Forum in this enhanced effort. Our volunteer-based 25+ forum network will also continue and benefit from efforts to increase the diversity of new voices.